You may be surprised at how many foods you can actually make with a pizza oven. If you have one at home, make sure to try these delicious and fun-to-make cooking ideas.
Here are 10 things you can cook in a pizza oven:
- Homemade bread.
- Foccacia.
- Baked vegetables.
- Slow-cooked meat.
- Baked fish.
- Casserole.
- Nachos.
- Grilled shrimps.
- Brownies.
- Cinnamon rolls.
And that is just the beginning of the list. As you can see, apart from baking, you can also cook vegetables, fish, meat, and even nachos! In this article, I will guide you through the great variety of dishes that you can make in your pizza oven.
1. Homemade Bread
What can be nicer than a warm, freshly-baked loaf of delicious homemade bread? If you’ve ever wanted to try and make bread at home, your pizza oven can help you with that. Here are a couple of exciting must-try homemade bread recipes.
Ciabatta
Soft Italian ciabatta may seem challenging to make, but the result is irresistibly delicious. You can use this simple Bread Stone Ovens recipe for cooking ciabatta in a wood-fired oven.
The soft center and crunchy ciabatta crumb work well together, especially when the bread is freshly made. It also has pores on the inside, which contribute to its light and fluffy texture.
You can add olives or tomatoes to your ciabatta if you like. These ingredients can enhance the flavor of bread and make your cooking even fancier.
Garlic Bread
Garlic bread goes well with many drinks and dishes, but it’s especially good with some soup and can also be an excellent pair to a pint of beer. It doesn’t require many ingredients and is very easy to make.
If you’re interested in trying cooking garlic bread at home, give it a go with this fantastic recipe from The Stone Bake.
If you’re a fan of cheese, try adding it to your garlic bread as well. Speaking from experience, it takes the taste to a whole another level.
2. Focaccia
Not really a pizza, but not plain bread either—if you’re looking for something in between, focaccia might be the option for you.
In Naples, the city which is home to pizza (and pizza ovens!), focaccia is made from pizza dough leftovers, with olive oil and tomato sauce on top. You can find many similar variations of focaccia with cheese, oregano, or sea salt.
There is also a Genovese focaccia, which you can make with this Forno Bravo recipe. It is the original focaccia cooking technology, the result of which is more bread-like focaccia made of rich dough with olive oil.
3. Baked Vegetables
It is best to keep to a diet rich in vegetables, including fresh and cooked ones. Baking your veggies is the healthiest way of preparing them, and with a pizza oven, it is also the most delicious!
You can get any veggies of your choice and bake them with olive oil, garlic, and spices. However, if you’re looking for more challenging ideas, you can try this vegetarian classic recipe of ratatouille.
Ratatouille first emerged in France as poor peasants’ food that combined veggie leftovers into a fulfilling and rich in flavor dish. Today, it is highly valued as a tasty and healthy meal. Making ratatouille in an oven is a method quite different from the classic recipe, but the result is absolutely delicious!
4. Slow-Cooked Meat
Your pizza oven can also help you make incredibly tender and rich in flavor slow-cooked meat. Any meat of your preference can work: here’s a great recipe for slow-cooked pork, and here’s one for beef cheeks if you like your dish less fatty.
And, of course, let’s not forget about roasted chicken. You can try this simple Pacific Horticulture recipe to make a tender and juicy chicken dish with some vegetables for the side.
You can even use your pizza oven to cook your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey and make a fun holiday endeavor. Unlike a regular oven, a wood-fired one can fit very large birds, so there’s no limit to the size of your main course!
5. Baked Fish
Not everyone likes fish, but true fans know that baked fish is one of the most delicious dinner options ever. Try baking fish in your pizza oven this time—you will be amazed at the result!
Some must-try baked fish recipes include this Whole Sea Bream Al Forno, where you can bake a whole sea bream with veggies and olive oil, and this yummy Cedar Plank Salmon with Cajun Rub—a treat for all salmon lovers out there.
6. Casserole
Making casserole in a pizza oven is a great way to spice up an old favorite dish, enhancing its flavor and adding that smoky aroma that makes your appetite go up instantly.
You can follow your favorite casserole recipe but use the wood-fired oven for cooking it. Or you can give it a go with this sausage casserole that uses the potential of the pizza oven to its fullest, creating the perfect dish for barbeque weekends and chili Friday nights.
7. Nachos
This one here is especially exciting, as making your own nachos is a very fun experience, and you can award yourself for all the effort with a chill movie evening afterward.
If you like it spicy, try this Kettle Pizza recipe for nachos with chicken and jalapeños. Some additional cheese and salsa sauce can make the final dish even more delicious.
For lobster lovers out there, here’s an especially fancy nachos recipe that features lobster meat, complimented by white queso sauce and homemade guacamole. If you’re having friends over for a movie night, this unusual snack will be an excellent way to surprise them!
8. Grilled Shrimps
You can make some wood-fired shrimps for your pizza or pasta, or make them a separate meal, as they are exceptionally delicious even on their own.
This Foodness Gracious recipe can help you cook shrimp in your pizza oven with some homemade basil butter, lemon, and garlic.
It is also much healthier than frying shrimp in a pan or deep fryer with excessive oil and unhealthy fats.
9. Brownies
A pizza oven is also great for cooking desserts! Let’s start with brownies, an old-time favorite that is especially great during the holidays.
Brownies made in a wood-fired oven have enhanced chocolate flavor and just melt in your mouth. You can use this simple Ooni recipe to guide you through the process.
The recipe is very easy to modify according to your preferences. You can add chocolate chips (or double chocolate chips!), salty caramel, or peanut butter to make the brownies even yummier.
And, of course, don’t forget the ultimate game-changer—a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
10. Cinnamon Rolls
Last but not least, let’s talk about the great way to use your pizza dough leftovers. Instead of throwing them away, you can make delicious cinnamon or raisin rolls in little to no time!
Here’s a simple recipe that explains how you can bake yourself a lovely dessert from pizza dough with some butter, sugar, and cinnamon or raisins, whichever you prefer.
A great pair to your cinnamon rolls would be a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
